Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Regarding Karen O'Flaherty, the Department has said in other cases that it will provide modular accommodation where there is insufficient capacity but a new special class is sanctioned. It does not make sense that Murhur has children entitled to a special class and the board of management is in favour of establishing one. According to NCSE guidelines, in certain circumstances the SENO may sanction a class before there are sufficient students if extra places will be filled as students have been identified. The overriding consideration must be to respond to the needs of the students with special educational needs who, had they not additional needs, would ordinarily attend a school in the local community. The recent circular says that medium and larger schools will be required to open special schools. Murhur is small, but Karen's needs are as valid as those of the children in bigger schools. She is entitled to her full education and is better served in a special class. The school has reached out and I respectfully urge the Minister of State to intervene and deliver what Karen, her family and the community deserve.

As regards the whole of Kerry, 18 special education classes have been sanctioned and there is extra funding, but although they have been sanctioned, there are no additional classes available. That does not equate to delivery.

See this speech in context